Leaving supported housing in Birmingham can mean moving to a private rented room, applying for social housing or asking the council for homelessness help. Start planning with your support worker before your current accommodation ends, and contact Birmingham City Council if you may have nowhere suitable to live.
What should I do before leaving supported housing?
Ask your housing provider and support worker to talk through your move-on plan as early as possible. Find out when your current arrangement is expected to end, what notice or other steps are needed, and what support will be available during the move. Ask for important information in writing so you can check it later.
Make a list of your needs and preferences. For example, think about where you need to live to reach work, health appointments, family or support services. Say what help you may need to manage a tenancy, such as support with letters, budgeting or keeping appointments. If you need an accessible room or a particular type of support, explain why.
Gather useful papers if you can. These may include identification, benefit information, a National Insurance number, details of your housing history and contact details for your support worker. Do not delay asking for help because you cannot find every document. Tell the service what is missing and ask what else it can accept.
Keep your phone number and email address up to date with housing services. Save copies or photos of applications and messages. If you are asked to leave sooner than expected, tell your support worker and the council straight away.
What room options are there in Birmingham?
A room in a shared private rented home may be one option. Ask what the rent includes, whether bills are separate, what deposit or rent in advance is needed, and what support is offered, if any. Check the room in person if you can. Read the agreement and ask questions before signing. A room that looks affordable may still be difficult to manage once travel, food and other regular costs are included.
You can also look into social housing. Birmingham City Council uses Birmingham Choice, its choice-based lettings scheme. You must apply and meet the scheme’s eligibility and qualification rules. If accepted onto the register, you can express interest in available homes that suit your household. The council says demand is high and waits for a suitable home can be long, so do not rely on a housing-register application as your only move-on plan. Read the council’s housing allocation information and Birmingham Choice information.
Some people may need another supported housing placement or help from a housing support service. Ask your current worker whether they can make a referral or help you contact local services. Birmingham City Council lists housing and homelessness support organisations. For young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless or at risk, the council lists St Basils Youth Hub as a local service.
For general help with looking for a room while receiving benefits, see Renting a room on benefits in the UK. It may help you prepare questions, but always check the details of a particular room and your own circumstances.
How do I apply for social housing in Birmingham?
Birmingham City Council says applications for its housing register are made through Birmingham Choice. The council assesses whether you are eligible and qualify under its allocation scheme. Being homeless or leaving supported housing does not automatically mean you will be accepted onto the register or offered a home.
If you apply, give clear and accurate information about your household, current housing and support needs. Explain how your current home affects you and include relevant evidence if the form asks for it. Keep the application reference and check your account or messages for requests for more information. Tell Birmingham Choice if your circumstances change, such as a change to your address or the date your accommodation will end.
If you are accepted, read the instructions about expressing interest in homes. This is sometimes called bidding, but it does not mean paying money. Check that a property meets your needs before expressing interest. Ask the council if you do not understand your band, decision or next steps. You can also ask your support worker to help you understand the process.
For a wider explanation of how a council housing application usually works, see How to get a council or housing association home. Birmingham has its own rules, so use the council’s current scheme for local details.
What if my supported housing is ending and I have nowhere to go?
Contact Birmingham City Council’s homelessness service as soon as you know you may have nowhere suitable to live. The council says it can assess people at risk of losing their home in the next 56 days. This is a separate process from applying to join Birmingham Choice, so ask about both if both may apply to you.
For a housing adviser, the council lists 0121 303 7410, option 3, during weekdays from 9am to 5pm. If you are homeless and need emergency help outside office hours, the council lists 0121 303 2296 for people aged 18 or over, and 0121 675 4806 for those aged 17 or under. Check the council’s homelessness services page for current contact details and instructions.
If you are aged 24 or under and have no children, the council says you may need to contact St Basils Youth Hub. Its listed number is 0300 303 0099. If you are not sure which service fits your situation, explain your age and circumstances when you call the council.
Tell the council when your accommodation is due to end and whether you have somewhere safe to stay. Share any letters from your provider and explain any health, disability or support needs that affect where you can live. The council will assess your circumstances; what help is available depends on your case and the options it has.
You can read how to make a homeless application in England before you contact the council. If you have already lost your accommodation, say clearly that you have nowhere to stay tonight.
How can I make the move easier to manage?
Break the move into smaller tasks. Make a simple list with dates, names and phone numbers. Ask your support worker to help you prioritise if there are several applications or appointments to manage.
Before agreeing to a room, check:
- The total rent and which bills, if any, are included.
- What the agreement says about your room, shared spaces and ending the arrangement.
- How you will get to important appointments and support.
- Whether the room and any support offered match your needs.
- What you need to pay before moving in and whether you can afford the ongoing costs.
If you receive Universal Credit or another benefit, do not assume it will cover every housing cost. Ask the relevant benefit service or a recognised advice service how your own circumstances may affect help with rent. Next Step Rooms is not a benefits advice service and cannot advise on your individual entitlement.
If you are struggling to find a room, tell your support worker and the council what you have tried and what is stopping you. Ask whether a referral, another housing option or extra help with planning is available. Keep applying for suitable options while you wait for a decision, if you are able.
How can Next Step Rooms help?
Next Step Rooms has furnished rooms in supported shared houses in Liverpool, not Birmingham. Gas, electricity, water, council tax and Wi-Fi are included in those rooms. We accept registrations from Birmingham and elsewhere in the UK for a free waiting list and room alerts, but registering does not mean there is a Birmingham room available.
The service is for adults on Universal Credit who also receive PIP or another extra benefit that exempts them from the benefit cap, including DLA, the ESA support component, LCWRA or Carer’s Allowance. A housing partner confirms eligibility before a viewing. We call back within one hour, or first thing the next morning for evening registrations.
If Liverpool could work for you, register your details. You can also sign up for room alerts. If you are a support worker referring someone, use /refer.
Questions people ask
Does leaving supported housing mean I will get a council home in Birmingham?
No. You need to apply through Birmingham Choice and meet the council’s rules. The council says demand is high, so consider other housing options too.
When should I contact Birmingham City Council if my accommodation is ending?
Contact the council as soon as you know you may lose your home. It says it can assess people at risk within the next 56 days; contact it sooner if the situation is urgent.
Can Next Step Rooms offer me a room in Birmingham?
No. Our furnished rooms are in Liverpool. People in Birmingham can register for the free waiting list and room alerts, subject to the service’s eligibility criteria.
Who can help me plan my move from supported housing?
Start with your current support worker or housing provider and ask for a move-on plan. Birmingham City Council also lists local housing and homelessness services.
Sources and official help
- Birmingham City Council: At risk of being homeless
- Birmingham City Council: Homelessness services
- Birmingham City Council: Housing Allocation Scheme
- Birmingham City Council: Homeless advice
This guide is general information, not legal or benefits advice. Rules and amounts change, so check the official links above or speak to Citizens Advice or your council before you make a decision.